Hurricane Irene pummels weekend box office

By Sarah Sluis

Hurricane Irene caused millions of dollars of damage. With an estimated 1,000 theatres closed because of the storm, this weekend's box office was no exception. Receipts were down 20-25% from 2010, meaning some $25 million was lost due to decreased attendance. Even in areas where theatres were open, many chose to hunker down for the whole weekend.

The Help held on to its first-place spot by dipping just 28% to $14.3 million. Strong support from areas outside the East Coast, like the South, Los Angeles, and Chicago, kept the movie from dropping significantly. The drama should cross the $100 million mark sometime this week.

Colombiana landed on top of the new releases with a seven-digit debut of $10.3 million. The revenge-action pic, starring Zoe Saldana, drew audiences from all four demographic quadrants. Women comprised 57% of the audience, and 65% of viewers were over the age of 25.

While horror movies normally open big, Don't Be Afraid of the Dark had a more modest debut, racking up $8.6 million. In fact, only two supernatural horror movies have opened lower in the past three years. FilmDistrict had a surprise hit earlier this year with horror movie Insidious, so perhaps the spry distributor can quickly help the film back on its feet.

New York City-set comedy Our Idiot Brother, which finished with $6.5 million, was especially hard-hit by Irene. The movie tested best among East Coast viewers, who couldn't turn out due to the weather. The movie's highest-grossing location, Manhattan's Union Square theatre, was closed Sunday due to the hurricane. Next week it will be hard work to pick up the mess and try to recoup the adult audience.

Vera Farmiga's religious drama Higher Ground released in three theatres, including two in Manhattan, for a per-screen average of $7,000. Studio execs estimated the pic would have averaged $15,000 per screen in better weather.

This Wednesday, The Debt will hit theatres. On Friday, the box office will kick off the long Labor Day weekend with sci-fi thriller Apollo 18 and the sharks-eat-teens flick Shark Night 3D.

'Colombiana,' 'Idiot Brother' and 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' head off against 'Help'

By Sarah Sluis

The last weeks of the summer box office are normally dampened by kids going back to school and people trying to squeeze in some time for a final beach trip or barbecue. This weekend, the East Coast box office will be hampered by Hurricane Irene, which has put citizens from North Carolina to New York City on alert and unlikely to be thinking about catching the latest summer movie. Even for those areas without a hurricane to worry about, the trio of new releases is unlikely to unseat The Help from its first-place spot.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark (2,760 theatres) should grab a number in the low teen millions thanks to horror fans who prefer to see their movies opening weekend. Unlike a lot of other scary fare, the R-rated picture has little gore. This could either bring in a wider audience or alienate hard-core horror fans who like to see blood spilled along with their scares. Although the movie hews to haunted house film conventions, I wrote in my review that it will "partially satisfy those in need of simple, old-fashioned chills."

The charming Our Idiot Brother (2,555 theatres) tells the story of a "homeless hippie who disrupts the more conventional lives of his three New York City sisters," as described by critic Kevin Lally." The "first-rate cast" wields remarkable comic abilities, making Idiot Brother a "comedy of modest, genial pleasures." Like Don't Be Afraid, this comedy could open somewhere above the $10 million range. However, the New York audience is definitely a sweet spot for this comedy, which is set in the city, so the hurricane could easily blow these projections off course.

Some like revenge served cold. Others like to see their victims "shot, knifed, garroted, run over, blown up and eaten alive," which is what critic Daniel Eagan says happens to a number of supporting actors in Colombiana (2,614 theatres). Zoe Saldana stars as a contract killer out for revenge on those who murdered her parents. Eagan calls her the fantastic action star, a would-be "perfect Catwoman," who is "lithe, graceful, and eager to get dirty." While nothing here feels "remotely original," there's more than enough to satisfy genre fans.

On the specialty front, Midnight in Paris will triple the amount of locations in release for a total of 652 theatres. The Woody Allen movie has already earned $50 million, making it the indie hit of the summer. Vera Farmiga directs and stars in Higher Ground (3 theatres), which is based on a woman's memoir about her religious journey. Unlike a lot of religious movies, the subject is handled with "real intelligence and objectivity," according to David Noh. Brighton Rock (11 theatres), the adaptation of a Graham Greene novel, suffers from "wrongheaded bloat."

On Monday, we'll see what damage Irene did to the box office, and if The Help was able to maintain its spot at number one.

Trailer breakdown: 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark'

By Sarah Sluis

Most people are either horror fans, or they aren't. But there's a certain type of creepy movie that tends to draw broader audiences. Usually they go a little lighter on the blood and guts, and they also tend to offer a story that's more than just an excuse to have a serial killer on the loose. Whatever's causing the horrific things to happen is usually interesting in its own right (The Sixth Sense, Rosemary's Baby). Director Guillermo Del Toro may be known for his lavish, elaborate worlds in Pan's Labyrinth or Hellboy, but he's also into all things creepy. The prolific creator has produced a number of movies, including the wonderful not-too-scary The Orphanage. The trailer for upcoming Don't Be Afraid of the Dark was just released, and I imagine it will hit the same notes as The Orphanage.

A few reasons why Don't Be Afraid of the Dark will be more than a typical horror movie

1. FilmDistrict is handling distribution, and they're currently riding high on the success of Insidious, a low-budget scary movie that's considered the most profitable movie of the year.

2. They get the haunted house right. The atmospheric details like a creepy heater fit well into the scary house narrative, and the demonic murals shown in the trailer take it a step further. You also have to believe that people would actually move into a dilapidated mansion, and the house looks just normal enough outside to make everything believable.

3. Katie Holmes. She may have pursued some not-quite-right films recently, but her performances are always on the mark. She's incredibly naturalistic and believable as an actor.

4. Child victim. It's always the children that are most susceptible to evil influences, and this film is no exception. There's something about a child victim that makes a horror movie that much creepier.

5. Last, and perhaps most important, is the influence of Del Toro, who re-wrote the screenplay from a 1970s TV movie and is producing. He has a real eye for the creepy, but I also think he benefits from giving ultimate directing control over to someone else. It makes for a movie with superior craftmanship but an appeal that goes beyond niche horror.

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark comes out on August 26, the perfect time of year to get goosebumps from the combination of movie theatre air conditioning and a scary movie.

'The Fighter,' 'Don't Be Afraid of the Dark' round out casts for summer shoots

By Sarah Sluis

When someone's career starts to take off, you often expect them to move away from supporting parts and take on only leading roles. Not Amy Adams. She followed up her Oscar-nominated supporting role in Junebug with a mainstream Disney comedy, Enchanted, but returned for another supporting role in Doubt (Oscar nomination #2). With a romantic comedy, Leap Year, under wraps, she's signed up for another supporting role, as Mark Wahlberg's love interest in The Fighter. The biopic has been circulating for some time before it finally nailed down its two leads earlier this year. Christian Bale and Wahlberg will star as two brothers. The eldest (Bale), who has drugs and prison time on his resume, trains his younger brother to a boxing title. Melissa Leo, who was nominated last year for Lead Actress, will play Bale and Wahlberg's mother. David O. Russell is directing, and the film will start shooting in Lowell, MA, in July. With its talented cast of actors, biographical subject, and a talented director, this looks like a project angling to be one of the ten Best Picture nominees at the 2010 Oscars.

Here's an interesting combination: A 1973 teleplay as source material + the mysterious wife of Tom Cruise as star + a Guillermo Del Toro protege as director. Put it together, and you've got Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, which will begin shooting next month in New Zealand. I was disappointed that Katie Holmes didn't reprise her role as Rachel in The Dark Knight, and took it as a sign that she was swearing off the movie business, so I'm excited to see her turn up headlining another project. Never underestimate the lasting audience loyalty that can result from starring in a teen nighttime soap like "Dawson's Creek." Del Toro mentored Juan Antonia Bayona on the Spanish-language horror film The Orphanage (2007), to spectacular results, and he'll be taking on a similar role with Troy Nixey. The first-time feature director will be working from a screenplay co-written by Del Toro, and the New Zealand location was chosen for its proximity to Australia, where Del Toro is working on The Hobbit. Del Toro is also producing, ensuring he'll be able to keep a watchful eye on the film's progress. The film's plot seems fairly typical, so it will be up to Nixey and Del Toro to create that tingly atmosphere of foreboding. The plot follows a girl (Bailee Madison) who moves in with her father (Guy Pearce) and his girlfriend (Holmes), only to discover demonic creatures that first enchant, and then horrify her. The girlfriend also becomes aware of their presence, but the father holds out, refusing to believe. Horror that tries to be more than just a screamer is one of my great pleasures, so I'm always happy to see projects like this in the pipeline.